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Back two years ago, the DRPA was looking to sell PATCO. Nothing came of it, however. Also in a study was idea of a Woodcrest station opening up as a joint PATCO/ NJ Transit station. Nothing came of it either. Also considered was double tracking the AC Line in SJ. Nothing. However, I take it that these all can happen if the will is there.
The NJ Transit AC Line runs to 30th Street Station but runs parallel to PATCO from somewhere between Haddonfield and Woodcrest stations to Lindenwold.
My thought: rather than have duplicative rail service running from Camden County to Philly between NJ Transit and PATCO, a better idea would be to consolidate and have some trains offering a one ride access from 8th/Market to Atlantic City, but maybe doubletrack the AC part to offer more service to Atlantic County/City. This will help strengthen/broaden the Philly region. Even if the PATCO line was just extended to Atco as double tracked, it would be an accomplishment, with single tracking and less frequency to AC. Atco would be right off the highway from White Horse Pike. However, Atlantic City would lose one train access to 30th Street Station as the AC Line ends there.
However more lately Amtrak identified that it wants to switch to Market East right where PATCO goes. Thus Atlantic City wouldn't necessarily need to be directly linked to 30th Street to reach more regions like Harrisburg or Washington DC via train.
I know when talking about these agencies, it's not like the private sector where possible efficiencies will drive things to actually get done. But any news on this front, and/or likelihood if NJ Transit could take over or better integrate with PATCO?
PATCO is a money loser for sure. Then again, if the DRPA focused on it and the bridges instead of inking loans for connected politicians, maybe they wouldn't need to sell a critical asset.
Regarding connecting service between NJ Transit and PATCO, I'm not sure if either agency has the capital to make something work. PATCO works because the DRPA subsidizes the whole operation with bridge tolls. NJ Transit had huge budget issues and recently jacked fees in Northern NJ and I believe the AC line had service cuts, which makes commuting on it way less convenient.
NJ needs to worry about restoring the old Gloucester-Millville line first to alleviate the 42N rush hour traffic nightmare. That whole route is impassable due to the population explosion that was never addressed with restoration of the rail line into Camden.
Also, the services use two separate bridges across the Delaware River. Franklin Square station was built to entice the Southern NJ Rail Company to run their service across the Ben Franklin bridge into Philadelphia to begin with - also, PATCO uses the quarter of the downtown subway loop which was never completed on the Philadelphia side.
I think we'll see the AC services merged sometime after they fix the 42/295 interchange, move the turnpike interchanges directly to 42 (Exit 3) and 295 (Exit 4) - so in other words - never :-). It's a good idea though for sure.
Back two years ago, the DRPA was looking to sell PATCO. Nothing came of it, however. Also in a study was idea of a Woodcrest station opening up as a joint PATCO/ NJ Transit station. Nothing came of it either. Also considered was double tracking the AC Line in SJ. Nothing. However, I take it that these all can happen if the will is there.
The NJ Transit AC Line runs to 30th Street Station but runs parallel to PATCO from somewhere between Haddonfield and Woodcrest stations to Lindenwold.
My thought: rather than have duplicative rail service running from Camden County to Philly between NJ Transit and PATCO, a better idea would be to consolidate and have some trains offering a one ride access from 8th/Market to Atlantic City, but maybe doubletrack the AC part to offer more service to Atlantic County/City. This will help strengthen/broaden the Philly region. Even if the PATCO line was just extended to Atco as double tracked, it would be an accomplishment, with single tracking and less frequency to AC. Atco would be right off the highway from White Horse Pike. However, Atlantic City would lose one train access to 30th Street Station as the AC Line ends there.
However more lately Amtrak identified that it wants to switch to Market East right where PATCO goes. Thus Atlantic City wouldn't necessarily need to be directly linked to 30th Street to reach more regions like Harrisburg or Washington DC via train.
I know when talking about these agencies, it's not like the private sector where possible efficiencies will drive things to actually get done. But any news on this front, and/or likelihood if NJ Transit could take over or better integrate with PATCO?
The Ridership levels go down after lindenwold , most of the ridership gets off at Haddonfield. The Atlantic line will be double tracked in some areas and more sidings added but it doesn't need to be fully double tracked even with future Cape May and Vineland Commuter service added... All you need are upgraded signals.... A Berlin station for the Atlantic city has been floated that would do wonders for the town. Atco seems like a dead station , its in the middle of nowhere and has low ridership why expand to it? Theres also freight trains which service South Jersey and use the Atlantic City line so you couldn't get rid of it....
Amtrak is not ending services at 30th street , infact they will be adding even more lines. Market East will become a High Speed Rail hub , 30th Street will remain a Intercity hub which will service all Northeastern cities while Market East's lines will do the big cities. All NJT regional and Septa Regional Rail will expand to 30th Street....
I love the speedline... it's very unique in that it's 24hrs (I believe only NYC subway, PATH, and Chicago loop also are). Very few issues with it over the years. I just wish it went further into the city. Maybe become a Center City loop or go to 30th St./University City or something.
Current , Proposed , Planned or Under Construction Stations
Current Network
Atlantic line
Philadelphia-30th Street Station North Philadelphia Pennsauken Transit Center
Cherry Hill
Lindenwood Berlin
Atco
Hammonton
Egg Harbor City
Absecon
Atlantic City
RiverLine
Trenton Transit Center
Hamilton Ave
Cass Street
Bordentown
Roebling
Florence
Burlington Towne Centre
Burlington South
Beverly-Edgewater Park
Delanco
Riverside
Cinnaminson
Riverton
Palmyra
Pennsauken-Route 73 Pennsauken Transit Center
36th Street
Walter Rand Transportation ctr
Cooper St-Rutgers Univ.
Aquarium
Entertainment Center
PATCO Speedline
15–16th & Locust
12–13th & Locust
9–10th & Locust
8th Street Franklin Square
Camden - City Hall
Walter Rand Transportation Center
Ferry Avenue
Collingswood
Westmont
Haddonfield
Woodcrest
Ashland
Lindenwold
Proposed South Jersey Network
Glassboro / Millville LRT
Walter Rand Transportation ctr Cooper Hospital
Atlantic Ave
Gloucester City
Crown Point Road
Red Bank Ave
Cooper Street
Woodbury Heights
Wenonah
Mantra Boulevard
Sewell
Pitman
Rowan University
Glassboro
Clayton
Newfield
Oak Road - Vineland
Landis Ave - Vineland
Walnut Road - Vineland
Route 55 Park / Ride
Broad Street
Main Street - Millville
West Trenton Extension LRT
Trenton Transit Center State and Canal Street
State and Warren Street
State House
Calhoun & Passaic Street
Calhoun & Bernard Street
Prospect Street
Parkside Ave
Lower Ferry Road
West Trenton Transit Center
Pennsville LRT Pennsville
Carney's Point
Penns Grove
Bridgeport
Gibbstown
Paulsboro
Woodbury JCT
Red bank Ave
Crown Point Road
Gloucester City
Atlantic Ave
Copper Hospital
Walter Rand Transit Center
West Trenton line
West Trenton Transit Center I-95 Park / Ride
Pennington
Hopewell
Belle Mead
Hillsborough
Bridgewater
Bound Brook
Dunellen
Plainfield
Netherwood
Fanwood
Westfield
Garwood
Cranford
Roselle Park
Union
Newark Penn station
Hoboken
Cape May Branch
Philadelphia-30th Street Station North Philadelphia
Pennsauken Transit Center
Cherry Hill
Lindenwood Berlin
Atco Woodbine
Cape May Courthouse
Rio Grande
North Cape May
Cape May
Mount Holly Branch
Philadelphia-30th Street Station North Philadelphia Pennsauken Transit Center
Maple Shade
Moorestown
Hainesport
Mount Holly
Bridgeton Commuter Rail
Philadelphia-30th Street Station North Philadelphia
Pennsauken Transit Center
Cherry Hill
Lindenwood
Atco Folsom
Buena
Vineland
Route 55 Park & Ride
Bridgeton
Cape May line via Inland Connector
New York Penn Station
Secaucus JCT
Newark Penn Station
Newark Liberty Airport
Elizabeth
Linden
Rahway
Woodbridge
Perth Amboy
South Amboy
Matawan
Red Bank Eatontown
Howell - Route 33
Howell - Route 195
Lakewood
Lakehurst
Crestwood Village
Chatsworth (Limited)
Woodbine
Cape May Courthouse
Rio Grande
North Cape May
Cape May
Somers Point Branch Somers Point
Linwood
Northfield
Pleasentville
Atlantic City
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